ST. BERNARD, La. -- Eleven people were arrested, including a St. Bernard firefighter who was in uniform, in a major heroin bust by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office.
During the bust, nearly an ounce of heroin worth several thousand dollars was recovered and four heroin dealers were arrested, from Chalmette, New Orleans, Kenner and Gretna, St. Bernard Sheriff Jack Stephens said.
“An on-duty St. Bernard Parish firefighter who called a dealer to buy $50 worth and showed up in full uniform to get it during a work break,” said sheriff’s office spokesman Steve Cannizaro.
The drug sting began after the sheriff’s office developed information on one heroin dealer. After he was arrested, the operation expanded to other arrests with further investigation.
Ten people were booked on heroin charges and the 11th person was booked on a cocaine charge, according to the sheriff’s office. The arrests were made during a two-day sting Wednesday and Thursday, according to the sheriff’s office.
Just under an ounce of heroin worth several thousand dollars on the streets was recovered and four heroin dealers, from Chalmette, New Orleans, Kenner and Gretna, Sheriff Stephens said.
The dealers, all booked with possession with intent to distribute heroin, were identified as:
Darren Gallin, 46, of Kenner, had 72 wrapped foil packets totaling 10 grams of heroin worth $1,450.
Rondell Petterson, 26, of Gretna, had 7.8 grams of heroin worth $1,050. He was also booked with possession with intent to distribute 1.5 grams of crack cocaine and with obstruction of justice.
Edrena Martinez, 41, of New Orleans, was also booked with possession with intent to distribute 1.5 grams of crack after she showed up at a location driving a vehicle occupied by Petterson, the sheriff said.
Aaron Steel, 50, of Chalmette, had 48 wrapped packets totaling four grams of heroin worth about $1,000. He was also booked with possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Chris Kendrick, 43, of New Orleans, had 2.5 grams of heroin in his possession.
The others arrested included:
April Adams, 26, and Richard Leon, 31, both of St. Bernard Parish were booked with attempted possession of heroin, after showing up at a location to buy heroin.
Joshua McReynolds, 24, and Tabetha Sholar, 20, both of Bay St. Louis, were also both booked with attempted possession of heroin after arriving together at a location to purchase the drug.
According to the sheriff’s office, the St. Bernard firefighter was identified as Lucas Chizzonite, 26, of Chalmette, and was booked with possession of nearly a gram of heroin. The drugs were found at his home after his arrest.
He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $25,000 bond, and he resigned from the Fire Department after his arrest on Feb. 24, according to the sheriff’s office.
Kellie Odinet, 30, who lived with Chizzonite, was booked with possession of heroin, marijuana and the drug paraphernalia, according to sheriff’s office.
